On the third day previous to the beginning of the 10-day
Karthigai Festival, Lord Vinayaka and Chandikeswarar Utsavam is observed.
The panchamoorthies taken in procession throughout the
celebratory Karthigai Deepam Festival are:
Vinayaka, Arunachaleswarar-Unnamulai, Amman, Kartikeya and Chandikeswarar.
Chandikeswarar represents all devotees and follows the other murtis in procession as their steward. He is the embodiment of devotion and piety and the position he attained is considered the highest a devotee of Siva is privileged with.
Vinayaka, Arunachaleswarar-Unnamulai, Amman, Kartikeya and Chandikeswarar.
Chandikeswarar represents all devotees and follows the other murtis in procession as their steward. He is the embodiment of devotion and piety and the position he attained is considered the highest a devotee of Siva is privileged with.
The legend behind the reason for this great honour goes as
follows:-
“Chandikeswarar, a
devotee of Lord Shiva was born in the village of Seynalur on the banks of the
river Manni in the Chola country, as a young lad named Vicharasarman.
He was the son of a pious and learned Brahmin named
Yajnadatta. Vicharasarman was of great intelligence. One day when the lad was
going to school, he saw a cowherd brutally assaulting a cow. Angry at the
behaviour of the cowherd, young Vicharasarman took upon himself the duty of
tending the cows of the village, to which the villagers acceded. From that day
the cows looked happier and yielded more milk. More than the cow’s udders could
hold. Vicharasarman, seeing that the milk was being wasted, collected it in
vessels, set up lingams made of sand and poured this excess milk to bathe the
lingams with intense piety for Shiva. The cowherd who had lost position on
account of this Brahmin boy, saw him in this act and found this a good cause
for denouncing him. He immediately brought it to the notice of the village
elders as well as Yajnadatta, Vicharsarman’s father. The father saw his son
pouring milk on small sand mounds and without investigating, kicked one of the
lingams in anger. Young Vicharasarman came out of his reverie and cut off the
leg of his father with an axe with which he had kicked a linga.
Shiva was pleased with the devotion of this boy and he
appeared in person along with Parvati his consort, before the boy. Shiva
embraced him and made him in charge of his ganas (devotees or followers). He
was also made the steward of his household, naming him Chandikeswarar.”
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| Lord Vinayaka Alangaram |
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| Chandikeswarar Alangaram |
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| Lord Vinayaka and Chandikeswarar Alangarams |
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| Leaving the Siva Sannidhi |
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| The Lords on their respective Vahanas |
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| Taking darshan of Arunachala |
